Apparatus for thermally severing moil from hollow articles of glassware



Jan. 9, 1951 I J. w. ELDRED 2,537,660

APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 1, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,e 20 v 3mm JWEZdrecZ Jan. 9, 1951 J. w. ELDRED 2,537,660

APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF GLASSWARE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV- 1. 1947 J WEldred Jan. 9, 1951 2,537,660

J. w. ELDRED APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES 0F GLASSWARE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1, i947 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ELDRED J. APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF GLASSWARE Jan. 9, 1951 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 d w w W J Jan. 9, 1951 J. w ELDRED 2,537,660 APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL GLASSW FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF ARE Filed Nov. 1, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 06 my m /06 'L x I" J WEldred Jan. 9, 1951 J. w. ELDRED APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF GLASSWARE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 1, 1947 20 F1 G. m.

JWEZdWeQ/ Jan. 9, 1951 2,537,660

J. W. ELDRED APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES OF GLASSWARE 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed NOV. 1, 1947 J WEldreal TI G. 14:.

Gum/m Jan. 9, 1951 J. w. ELDRED 2,537,660

APPARATUS FOR THERMALLY SEVERING MOIL FROM HOLLOW ARTICLES 0F GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 1, 1947 9 Sheehs-Sheet 8 /29 l l l l A26 QUU I 4 4. v27j p 11 &\ /9/ FIG- 15.

5 /9.5 T0 VACUUM Z \2 To AIR A96 JWEldred Patented Jan. 9, 1951 APPARATUS lion THERMALLY .sltvnniue More FROM noLLow neurones on GLAss An-E John w. lEIdred, Columbus, Ohio 7 Application November 1, 194 7-SerialNo.783,597

This invention relates to automatic machines for forming articles of glassware. In the manu facture of table glasses or drinking tumblers, particularly, the ware receives its initial configuration in molding or forming machines. When discharged from the molds of such-machines, the ware includes an excess quantity of glass around the open ends thereon-known in-theart as the moil. Before the glassware isusable-it is necessary to remove the moil therefrom and finish and round the resulting mouth-contact edge It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved automatic machine of high capacityfor rapidly, efficiently and economically removing moil formations from hollow-articles of glassware.

.Another object is to provide such amachine wherein the moil is removedby intensely heat.- ing thearticles in aplane of moil severance While the articles are supported in inverted positions in rotating, table-carrying chucks, means being provided for. applying stretching forces. to the moil ends of the glassware when the same soften through heating, whereby to effect a sharp and clean separation of the moil without leaving tear imperfections on the, moil-removed glassware.

A further object of the invention is totprovide a burn-on machine in which the articles otglassware. are retained in rotatable chucks through the agency of, suction and wherein improved distributor means are provided for regulatingthe application of such suction forces tothe glass ware in the automatic loading, operation performing andunloading of the machine, said distributor means providing for the positive ejection of the moil-removed glassware from. the chucks through the introduction of air under super-atmospheric pressure into the chucks at the conclusion of the period of suction retention .or" the ware therein.

A still further object is to provide a machine for burning the moil from initially formed articles of glassware, the machine having a rotatable turretor table carrying a pluralityof gaseous fuel" burners in which the glass articles are partially inserted, and wherein improved valve means, controlled by the rotation of the turret, are. provided for governing the delivery'of oxygen and a gaseous hydrocarbon to the burners dur- 5 Claims. (01. ia-sc) moil-removed edge of the glassware, the cooling of the ware and its removal from the machine during each complete cycle of rotation of the table or turret. I

Other objects are to provide a burn-off machine of. thewcharacter indicated with means for automatically discharging the burned off moil from the machine; with automatic means for electingimperie'ct ware from which the moil may not have been fully removed. during the burning and stretching operations; the provision of an improved take-oil mechanism for automatically removing finished ware'from the machine; the provision of an, improved 'valve' means for preventing the development of suction forces in the article-holding chucks in the event an article should not be positioned in a chuck during the,

normal operation of the machine, and in various other structural and operational features hereinafter more fully defined.

The' prefe'rred embodiment of; my invention {is illustrated :in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

i Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionalview taken through a b'urir-ofi' machine formed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top pian View of the burn-01f m'a'c'hi'ne,- disclosing the associated trans-.- fer mechanism for delivering hollow glass articles tothe' machine and removing the articles from .-the machine after the burning of the moil portions therefrom, the figure-also showing the various operational zones through which the articles pass While retained by'the machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through one of the rotatable article-supporting chucks, the associated burner mechanism and the moil-removing means;

Fig.4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line A-r-Q of Fig. 3; V l 1 Fig.5 is a detail side elevational view of the moil-gripping means;

'Fig'; 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the upper end of one of the rotating chuck spindles and the associated valve means for applying suction-establishing forces thereto; 7 7 1 Fig. 7 is an en'. arged detail vertical sectional viewof the oxygen-distributing mechanism for supplying oxygen to the moil burners;

' Fig; 8 15a horizontal sectional View on the line 8- 2 l of Fig. 7; p

' -Fig, 9 is a similar view on the line 99 of lFi'giiljr j.

Fig. is a detail perspective view, partly in vertical section, disclosing one of the articlesupporting chucks, a moil burner and the moilgripping means;

Fig. 11 is a similar perspective view disclosing the moil-gripping means in active engagement with the moil portion of an article of glassware;

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevational view disclosing the initial stretching and severing of the heated moil from the body of the article of glassware;

Fig. 13 is a similar view disclosing the final stages of separation of the moil from the article of glassware;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view disclosing the edge of the article of glassware and the formation thereof after the moil has been removed;

Fig. 15 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the suction distributor mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view of the suction distributor mechanism and associated valves for controlling the ejection of imperfect ware from the machine;

Fig. 1'? is a detail vertical sectional view disclosing more particularly the means for discharging formed ware from the machine;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l8l8 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates the base of my improved glass burn-off machine, the same comprising a relatively heavy ribbed casting which may be provided with small-diametered rollers 2| by which a limited degree of portability may be imparted to the machine. The base carries a gear case 22 in which is rotatably journaled a shaft 23 adapted to be driven by an electric motor, or other source of power. The end of the shaft terminating within the gear case is formed with a pinion 24, the teeth of which mesh with those of a horizontal gear 25 carried by a vertically journaled shaft 26, supported for rotation axially and vertically within the case 22. The upper end of the shaft 25 projects above the top of the case and has fixed thereto a spur-toothed pinion 21, the teeth of which mesh with circumferential teeth provided on a horizontally arranged bull gear 28,

The bull gear is disposed in a base-mounted housing 39 formed with a detachable cover member 30, and secured to and positioned on the top of the cover member is a tubular center hub 3i. The bull gear 28 has its hub 32 fastened as at 33 to the lower region of a table shaft 34. Below the gear 28, the shaft 34 has fastened thereto a collar 35 which engages a thrust bearing 36 supported on the base 20. The table shaft is rotatably supported at its lower end by the hearing 36 and also by the vertically aligned bearing sleeves forming a part of the cover member 30 and the center hub 3|. Above the center hub, the table shaft is annularly shouldered as at 31, and positioned in a sleeve 38 of a hub 39 forming the axial center of a revoluble horizontally disposed spindle table or turret 40. The hub of the table is suitabiy fastened to the upper end of the table shaft so that the table rotates in unison With the shaft.

Rotatably supported in equidistantly spaced relation around the outer circumference of the table are tubular spindles 4!, said spindles being received in vertical bearing openings 42 provided circumferentially at spaced intervals in the table. At their lower ends, the spindles carry chucks 43 which are adapted to receive the inverted base ends of a hollow article of glassware 44, such as a drinking tumbler. Such an article is retained within its associated chuck by the use of suction, applied in a manner hereinafter more fully described, and while so retained within a chuck, the spindles are rotated to cause rotation of the retained article about its vertical longitudinal axis.

In the production of drinking glasses, such articles receive their initial shape and configuration in a molding or forming machine, not shown, and when released from the molds of such a machine, each article comprises a hollow body 45 having a closed base end 46 and a corrugated open-ended portion known in the art as the moil, which is indicated at 41. From the forming machine, the initially shaped articles are deposited on a conveyor, such as that indicated at 48, at regularly spaced longitudinal intervals. Coordinated with the movement of the conveyor is a transfer mechanism 49, which is diagrammatically disclosed in Fig. 2. Such a transfer mechanism may be of the form disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,415,997 dated February 18, 1947. This mechanism includes generally a rotatable head 50 from which project radial arms 5! carrying' at their outer ends relatively movable article-gripping fingers 52. As the articles are moving in unison with the conveyor, the same are gripped by the closing of the fingers 52 and removed from the conveyor. The head 55 rotates, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and during such rotation the arms 5| rotate about their longitudinal axes through an arc of substantially 180 degrees so that when the articles come into registration with the circumferential portions of the burn-off machine, the same are in inverted positions, with the base end of the article disposed upwardly, as in Fig. 3.

Rotatable in unison with the table or turret 40 is a ring member 53, upon which is seated a plurality of aseous fuel burners 54. Each of these burners includes a ring-shaped body 55 formed with an internal annular chamber 56 for the reception of oxygen, or compressed air, if desired, and a gaseous hydrocarbon, the said gases being mixed to constitute a highly combustible fuel. The inner wall of the body 55 is formed with a plurality of restricted orifices 51 through which the gaseous fuel escapes from the chamber 56 and, when ignited, the flame impinges on the outer walls of the glass articles 44 immediately above the moils 41 of each thereof, whereby to heat the glass locally to temperatures suificiently high so that the moils may be removed from. the main bodies of the articles. The means for controlling the introduction of the gaseous fuel mixture into the chamber 56 are described in detail hereinafter.

The burners 54 are located above openings 58 formed in the ring member 53 and positioned axially in each of these openings is an article support 59. Each of these supports is mounted on the upper end of a hollow vertically disposed tube 60. These tubes are positioned intermediately of their length in sleeves 6| carried by brackets 62 which, in turn, are secured as at 63 to companion brackets 64 depending from the rotatable ring member 53. The lower end of each of the tubes is secured to a collar 65 carried by an arm 56, the latter, in turn, being carried by and projecting laterally from the lower end of a sleeve 61. Each of the sleeves 61 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on a vertical rod '53 which depends from the ring member 53.

59 and surrounding the upper end of each of the tubes 60.

The upper ends 16 of the fingers l2 possess a Y-shaped configuration in order that they may efiectively grip the outer surfaces of the moil 4'! of each of the glass articles, as in Fig. 11, whereby as the article is gripped by the fingers, following heating of the glass by the burners 54, stretching forces may be applied to the thermally deformable moil portions to effect stretching or elongation thereof, whereby to facilitate the removal of the moil along definite lines of separation from the bodies of the glass articles.

When the ware is first deposited on the upper surfaces of the supports 59 by the operation of the transfer mechanism 49, the fingers 12 are in their open or spread positions, as shown in Fig. 10. Heating of the ware takes place in the region designated heating zone of Fig. 2. When the ware has been locally heated by the burners to a deformable temperature, the fingers are moved into engagement with the moils, as in Fig. 11. This is accomplished by the operation of the rods 69 which at their lower ends project below the arms 66 and are provided with washers l1, coil springs 78 surrounding the lower ends of the rods 69 and being positioned between the washers i1 and the arms 66, the tendency of the springs being to force the rods 69 downwardly so that the fingers 12 are maintained in contact with the moil regions of the ware, as in Fig.3. When the fingers are out of engagement with the moil of an article of glassware, the lower ends of the rods 69 engage with a finger cam 19 which elevates the rods and rock the fingers about their pivotal aXes to their open or spread positions.

.59 and their associated tubes 60,. permitting the article supports to be elevated when ware is deposited thereon and lowered during the burning and stretchingoperation. The supports 59 are slotted as at 82 to receive guidingly the fingers 12. The stretching of the glassware takes place during the movement of the table or turret through the segment indicated by the legend stretching zone in Fig. 2. This stretching operation has been disclosed in Figs. 12 and 13, where it will be observed that when the glass is heated and downward forces applied to the moil by the action of the fingers l2 and the weight of their associated controls, the molten glass tears itself loose from the body of the glassware until the moil is completely separated.

After initial engagement of the fingers 12 with the moil, rotation of the support 59 in unison with the glassware takes place, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. However, as the glassware approaches the severing point, as in Fig. 13, such rotation ceases as the glassware at its plane of heating is too molten or fluid to transmit motion from the chuck-revolved glassware to the moil support. The stretching forces exercised on the moil are maintained, which coupled with the rapid rotation of the chucks causes the moils to separate cleanly and sharply and without tear formation, thus avoiding rotation of the moil supports during final stages of moil separation. The application of heat is continued in order to produce rounded or beaded edges on the glassware, as indicated at 83 in Fig. 14. This heating period to produce the beaded edges is shown in Fig. 2 by the legend edge finishing zone, indicating the extent of rotary movement of the table during the finishing operation.

Somewhat before or at the conclusion of the finishing operation, the supply of combustible gases to the burners is shut ofi and the chuck spindles 4| are elevated by cam action as hereinafter defined. At or about the same time, the moil supports 59 are lowered through the engagement of the rollers '89 with a declivity in the cam 81 and the ware passes through a zone of cooling with the rotation of the table, the cooling zone being indicated in Fig. 2. As the table continues to rotate, the removed moils are brought into registration with a compressed air jet 85, which forces the removed moils from the supports 59 into a discharge chute 8B. Continued rotation of the table registers the moil-removed articles of glassware with a rotary takeout disk '8? and the vacuum on the chucks 43 removed from the table and, by the operation of a traveling belt 88, deposited on a run-out conveyor '89, which usually leads to a tempering leer, not shown, wherein the glassware undergoes additional heat treatment.

To supply the burners 54 with a hydrocarbon gas and oxygen, the. fuel gas enters the top of the machine, from any suitable source of supply, through the pipe line 90. The gas line terminates in a fluid-tight revolving joint or union 9|, and enters a head chamber shown at 92, which is mounted on a revoluble top of the table or turret 46. From the chamber 92, a plurality of gasconducting pipes 93 extend to the individual burners '54 which are carried by the rotating ring member 53. These'pipes may be equipped with hand actuated valves 94, the operating stems 95 of which being accessible from the circumferential portion of the table 49. The pipes 93 terminate in mixer shells 96, also mounted on the ring member 53, and in which oxygen or air under pressure is introduced to form the final combustible mixture which is delivered to the orifices 51 of the burners.

To control the fiow of air oroxygen, preferably the latter, to the mixer shells, there is mounted on the cover member 36 of the housing 29, and around the hub center 3!, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, a collar 9?, the latter being formed with an axially disposed annular upstanding sleeve 93.

Supported on the horizontal flange at of the collar 9! are concentrically disposed distributor rings H3 and NH. These rings are each formed with elongated arcuate slots H12 which coinmunicate with oxygen-supply pipes I93, the latter leading to any suitable source of oxygen supply under pressure, such as an oxygen tank, not shown.

Mounted on the rings H39 and I9! is a rotating valve ring I04 which is joined for rotation with the table 4i] and the ring member 53 by a plurality of oxygen-conducting pipes I95 which extend from the valve ring [04 to the mixer shells 96, the pipes I65 being connected by fittings I96 with communicating passages [Bl formed in the ring I04 and which communicate with the arou- "ate slots Hi2 of the rings I09 and I01 as the table 40 rotates. The valve ring m4 is provided on its under surface with concentric ribs 88 which enter concentric grooves I59 formed in the upper surfaces of the rings I39 and E3! to produce a fluid-tight seal. Also, the valvering is held down on the distributor rings I8 3 and IDI by means of an annulus l in which is fastened to the upper end of the sleeve 38 of the collar 91. The annulus is formed with a depending circular rib II I which is received in a correspondingly shaped groove provided in awear ring H2 disposed on the top of the valve ring IE4. Close-fitting engagement between the rings m8 and ifil and I84 is also maintained by the provision of coil springs H3, which are mounted in sockets provided in the collar 9'? and press upwardly against the under sides of the rings Hill and Ilil to produce a close running fit, eliminate gas leakage and compensating for wear.

To control the duration of the period in which oxygen is supplied to the burners, the outer distributor ring IE8 is provided with an outwardly and laterally projecting bracket H4 which registers with a segmental bracket H5 carried by the collar 97. The bracket H5 is formed with a multiplicity of spaced openings H6 which are threaded to receive a fastening bolt II? carried by the bracket H4. By this arrangement, the outer ring I86 may be adjusted about the axis of the table shaft 34 and maintained in its positions of adjustment, thereby varying the relative positions of the arcuate slots Hi2 provided in the rings I63 and WI. The effect of this adjustment is to vary the effective length of the slots I62, so that by shortening or extending such effective length, the duration of the period of oxygen supply to the burners may be correspondingly lengthened or shortened.

To control the application of vacuum or suction forces to the chucks 43 for the purpose of firmly maintaining the glass articles 44 in said chucks during the moil burning-ch operations, the upper end of the center hub 3i has fixed thereto an annular housing H8. This housing includes a circular internal chamber H9, into which extends one end of a vacuum-establishing pipe I28. This pipe extends, in part, through a groove lZI formed between radiating vertical fins I22 provided exteriorly on the hub 3i, and leads to a source of vacuum or suction-producing means, such as a vacuum pump, not shown.

Mounted on the upper surface of the housing H3 is a stationary ring l23 formed with arcuate slots I24, and I24, similar to the slots IE2, this slot communicating by means of openings and passages, shown at I25, with the chamber II9 of the housing H8. Arranged on the stationary ring 23 is a rotatable ring l25, which is joined with the table 43 for rotation therewith. The under surface of the ring I26 is formed with depending circular ribs I27 which are received in cdrrespondingly shaped grooves iZ'I' provided in the stationary ring I23 to assist in providing fluid-tight joints between the rings I23 and 26. The rotatable ring is formed with passages 28 which communicate with the arcuate slot I24 during a predetermined number of degrees of rotation on the part of the table'43.

Leading from the passages I28 are upright rigid pipes I29 which are carried by the table, and the upper ends of the pipe E23 terminate in fittings 533 which are joined with flexible pipe sections l3! which, as shown in Fig. 6, have their outer ends connected with threaded ipples I32 8 projecting laterally from vacuum valve cylinders I33. ,These cylinders are formed with housings I34 having offset flanges I35 at their lower ends which are bolted as at I35 to lug members I31, the latter being positioned on the upper ends of vertical bolts I38, the lower reduced ends I39 of said bolts being threaded in sockets formed with the table 40.

Each of the cylinder housings I34 includesa valve bore I40 and a larger diametered piston bore I4I. A piston valve is mounted in each of these cylinders and includes a head I43 having close-fitting engagement with the Walls of the bore I4], the piston terminating in a depending valve stem I44 which is received in the valve bore I43. Each piston valve is formed with an axial passage I45 extending entirely through the same and toward its lower end each of these passages communicates with laterally directed ports I43 and an annular groove I4? formed in the outer Wall surface of the stem M4. Above the groove I47, each stem I44 is additionally provided with grooves for the reception of expansible sealing rings I48, the latter having closefitting engagement with the inner walls of the valve bore I48. The spacing of the rings I48 is such, as indicated in Fig. 6, that when the chuck is elevated, the rings will be disposed on opposite sides of a vacuum passage I49 communicating with the nipples 32. The upper end of each of the valve housings 134 is provided with a bonnet I50 in which is positioned a coil spring ISI, the lower end of the latter being seated on the valve head I43 while the upper end of each spring engages with an adjustable seat I52 which is carried by an adjusting screw I53 threaded into the upper end of the bonnet I50. The adjustment of the screw provides for regulating the expansive force exercised by the spring on its associated valve member.

Exteriorly, each valve housing is provided with a cross head guide 154 and slidably mounted for vertical movement in each of these guides is a cross head I55. Each cross head is formed with a lug I56 from which extends upwardly a pin I51. The upper end of each of these pins enters an opening I58 in the bottom wall of the piston bore I4I so that the pin may engage the under side of an associated valve head I43 to lift the latter against the resistance of its spring I5I or to permit of the controlled descent of the valve. To impart sliding movement to the cross head at controlled times, each cross head carries at its lower end a stud I53 on which is mounted a roller I68. These rollers are disposedfor engagement during a certain sector of rotation of the table 48 with a stationary cam IEI positioned on a stationary upright frame post r the valves.

The cylindrical valve housings terminate at their lower ends in threaded openings which receive the threaded upper ends of vertically disposed depending tubes I63. Slidably mounted on and telescopingly receiving the tubes I33 are the upper ends fof the spindles 4|. Keyed to the screws III.

upper ends of the spindles II are crown-shaped clutch members I64, the latter being formed with clutch teeth indicated at I65. Above the clutch member I64, each of the spindles'is threaded to receive a nut I86 carrying a packing gland IIiI, by which fluid-tight engagementmay be maintained between thesliding spindles and the inner tubes I63. r

Surrounding each of the spindles and positioned on top of the table 40 is astationary sprocket collar I58, each of these collars being secured to the table by means of the vertical machine screws or bolts I68. The collars are annularly recessed to receive sprocket rings I'Ifi, the latter being formed with sprocket teeth which mesh with the links of a power-driven end ess chain I'II the latteralso passing around a sprocket I12 mounted on a tubular shaft I'I2' carried on the frame post I62 and, as stated. any suitable means may be provided for imparting rotation to the sprocket I I2 to drive the horizontally positioned endless chain III, the links of the latter meshing with the teeth of each of the sproc ets I'm. The sprocket rings are also formed with clutch teeth 113, which are adapted to be brought into and out of driving engagement with the teeth I65 of the clutch members The t bular spindles have their lower ends threaded as at I I4 as shown in Fig. 3, and receive a chuck holder I15 in which is positioned a tu bler-e a in botto p ate I16. The holders I15 are individually adiustab e on the s indles to'ada t the latter to artic es of g assware of di erent hei hts. The adiustment of. the holders may be maintained by transverse clamping The plates I I6 are perforated as at I 8 to apply suction forces directly to the inverted base ends of the articles of glassware The ho ders US are externally threaded to receive lock rings I 9 which en a e the flan ed ends I 1 of the ch cks 43. whereb to retain the latter in conne tion with the holders but to permit of convenient re lacement of the chucks, which surround and rin the ware, when ware of differe t dia eters are hand ed by the machine.

slidab e tubes I82 surround the rotating spind es between the clutch members I I54 thereof a d the h ders I15. The tubes I82 carry collars I8 to which are pivota ly united links I84. the said links being a so pivotally connected with the lon er arms I85 of a plurality of bell crank levers I85, the latter being pivotally mounted as at I 81 in connection with the under side of the table an The shorter arms I88 of the bell crank levers have their outer e ds eouipned with rollers I 89 which are ada ted to be brought into engagement with the peri heral edge of a cam plate I90 connected with the housing IIB. When the rollers are in contact with the cam ate I 9!],

10 receive an article of glassware from the transfer mechanism, the valve I44 in communication with such a chuck will remain closed to the passage I49, sincethe. normal suction in the chamber I4I lifts the piston head I43 when a glass is properly held in the chuck, but if the glass is improperly seated, or not present, when the roller I6!) leaves as shown at the left of Fi 1. the ch cks 3 and their associated spindles aree evated, interruptin the driving en agement between the clutch members I 4 and the cl tchv teeth I 3 of the sprockets I12 thus discontinuing rotation of the chucks a d providing room for the insertion of ware on the article supports 59.

It will be notedthat when the valve I44 is lifted through cam action, the passages I45 and I4! will register with the passa e I49 of the valve casing. Through the axial. passage I45, suction forces will be transmitted to the chucks, thereby positively holding the articles of glassware in the chucks during the operation of the machine. If for any reason, a chuck should not municates normally with the space thereinvde the camv I6 I, atmospheric air enters the chamber MI and the spring I5I restores the valve I44 to its lowered position, cutting off the suction force.

When the ware is discharged from the chucks and deposited on the take-out disk 8?, not only are the suction forces discontinued but a positive jet of air is introduced intoeach chuck under superatmospheric pressure to discharge the retained glassware from the chucks. Thus, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, a pipe I9I enters the ring I23 and communicates with a passage I92 therein, the pipe I9I leading from a source of compressed air supply. When the pipes I29 register with the passage IIJ2, that is, when a chuck is disposed over-the take-out disk, a jet of air under superatmospheric pressure is admitted momentarily into the chuck to forcibly deposit the glassware on the take-out disk.

Again referring to Fig. 6, it Will be noted that the arcuate slots I24 and I24 in the ring I24 are separated in order to provide a port I93 between the same. The slots I24 and I 24' are separated for the purpose of discharging from the chucks imperfect ware in Which the moil is still arri d by the Ware after the machne has performed its final burning operations ther on. -Whi1e this is a rare condition,it may happenforj-various reasons at widely separated intervals of machine operation and to further protect the machine, it is necessary to remove such imperfect ware before the take-out disk is reached in the rotation of the table.

Thus, to accomplish the discharge of such imperfect ware from the machine, use is made of a governing valve I94, shown in Fig. 16. This va ve includes a chamber I95- formed with a valve seat,

the latter being engaged and normally closed by a head I95 mounted on a sliding valve stem I91. A spring I98 normally maintains the head in its seated position. The stem I 91 projects exteriorly of the valve casing and at its outer end engages a trigger I99 which is pivoted as at 2% on the valve casing. The opposite end of the trigger is formed with a flexible blade 20I arranged in the cooling zone of the cycle of rotation of a spindle table or turret. In this zone, the spindles are elevated by the spindle-lifting cam I so that the moil-freed ware normally produced by the machine will be disposed somewhat above the plane-of the take-out disk 81. With the ware so elevated, if a moil still clings to one of the articles of glassware as aresult of incompl te severance, the adhering moil will contact the blade 2iI,.os-. cillating the trigger I99 and unseating the valve head I95, thus allowing compressed air to flow from the pipe, shown at 2522, through thebore of the valve. and its outlet port 203.

A pipe 284 extends from the port'2t3 tor-one end of a valve cylinderj2ll5 in which is slidably mounted a spool valve 296- having spaced annular grooves shown at 2Il'I and 208. A coil spring 2169 is arranged in the cylinder 205and presses the 11 fined by the groove 281. From the opposite side of the cylinder, a pipe 2H extends to the port 193 of the ring 123.

Thus in the normal rotation of the table, and in the handling of ware from which the moil has been fully removed, the passage of the table rotated ring 526 over the port I93 does not interrupt the supply of vacuum or suction forces to the spindle chucks. However, when imperfect Ware trips the valve ltd, air under pressure flows to the cylinder 205, forcing the spool valve 26% therein rearwardly against the resistance of the coil spring 29s. This registers the second groove 298 of the spool valve with the pipe 2! l and with an air supply pipe 212, so that air under pressure flows to the port H93 and thence to the spindle chuck carrying the imperfect ware bearing an unremoved moil, with the result that such imperfect Ware is discharged from the chuck and deposited in the waste glass chute 86 of the machine.

As the chucks pass over the peripheral edge of the take-out disk 8'1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 1'7, suction forces thereon are released and through compressed air jet control, the moil-removed ware is deposited on the upper surface of the take-out disk. This disk is rotatably carried by the shaft H2 and by the cooperation of the guiding belt 88, the finished ware is transferred to the run-out conveyor 89. After depositing the ware on the take-out disk, the chucks are fully raised to the position disclosed in Fig. 17, by the action of the bell crank levers I86 and the formation of the cam plate Hi8, providing room between the chucks and the brrner table for the insertion of the glassware to be acted upon by the machine when such ware is released from the transfer mechanism in the loading zone of the table.

In reference to the transfer mechanism shown in Fig. 2, it may be stated that when the gripping fingers 52 are separated, following deposit of the ware on the table, the serarated fingers do not interfere with the rotation of the deposited ware in unison with the table or turret, since the supporting arms 5! for the fingers 52 revolve about their longitudinal horizontal axes while the transfer mechanism rotates bodily about its vertical axis, such rotation being coordinated with the rotating movement of the table or turret so that the separated fingers 52 do not contact the deposited ware.

Any -suitable mechanism may be employed for imparting power to the shaft I12. In the present instance, the bull gear 28, opposite to the pinion 21, has its teeth disposed in meshing engagement with a pinion 243 carried by the upper end of a vertically journaled bracing-carried shaft 2M. The lower end of this shaft is provided with a gear 2 l 5 which meshes with a train of horizontal- 1y arranged gears Zia disclosed in Fig. 18, the last gear of this tra n being fixed to the tubuiar shaft H2. This shaft thus rotates the take-out disk 87, revolves the belt 88 and drives the sprockets H2 and H8 employed in rotating the chuck spindles.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved burn-off machine for the rapid and automatic removal of moil prolongations on initially formed hollow articles of glassware. The construction of the machine is such that the ware to be acted thereon may be fed automatically to the ware-holding chucks so that the glassware may be handled while it is in a relatively heated condition by mechanical conveyor transfer means, thus eliminating manual loading of the machine. The spindle carried chucks are arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals around the periphery of the revolving table or turret, and as the glassware is received in inverted positions in the chucks, suction forces are established, positively retaining the glassware in the chucks and effecting rotation thereof. When the heating zone in the rotation of the chucks is reached, the chucks are lowered to bring the moil portions of the glassware into registration with the table-carried burners, which project an intense flame on the glassware immediately above the moil regions to be severed. This flame heats the glassware locally to its softening or melting point while the moil thereafter is gripped by the fingers 12 of the moil supports.

At first, the moil supports rotate with the glassware, but as the latter becomes heated and softens and melts, the wall structure thereof loses rigidity and becomes more or less fluid, thus discont nuing the rotation of the moil supports and allowing the latter through the weight thereof to apply stretching forces to the moil. These stretching forces, coupled with the chuck rotation of the glassware, produces normally a clean and complete severance of the moil regions from the glassware, the latter being supported by the chucks, and the removed moil deposited on the moil-receiving plates 59. The operation of the burners is then continued during the passage of the chucks through the edge-finishing zone of table rotation, eliminating what is known as teardrop formations on the ware and producing a smoothly rounded edge at the lower open end of the ware of the character depicted in Fig. 14. Continued rotation of the table or turret advances the ware through the cooling zone of Fig. 2, and during this period, the fingers 12 of the moil supports are actuated through contact w th the cams '59 to assume open positions and at the same time the moil supports are lowered by the rollers 89 leaving the cam 8| so that said moil supports are disposed below the plane of the table ring 53 so that by the operation of the air jet 85, the removed moil may be discharged from the machine through the chute 86.

As previously stated, if for any reason the moil should not be completely severed from the ware and should remain clin ing to the ware as the same enters and passes through the cooling zone of rotation of the tab e, the means including the trigger I99 and its blade 20! engage such an unremoved moil and interrupt the suction forces applied to the chuck in which the imperfect ware is carried. Simultaneously, a jet of air is introduced into the chuck so that the imperfect ware is forcibly d scharged therefrom.

The continued rotation of the table or turret brings the finished ware over the peripheral portion of the take-out disk 87 at which time the suction forces to the chucks holding the ware are sustained and air jets introduced into the chucks to positively effect the deposit thereof on the take-out disk 81 from which it is transferred to the lehr conveyor 89. At the time of ware release from the chucks, the latter are elevated so that they will be above the ware deposited on the plates 59 of the moil-supporting means, which plates at the time of the deposit of the ware having been elevated by the position of the cam 8| acting on the moil-supporting means 66 and B1. The chucks thereafter descend into My improved machine is thus characterized by its automatic operation, its high output of finished ware and the elimination of conditions which might interfere with the sustained and proper operation of the machine. Again, through its construct on, the machine produces finished ware of entirely satisfactory formation from which physical imperfections are eliminated.

It will be understood that while I have disclosed a single preferred embodiment of my improved burn-oif machine, the same is, of course, subject to certain variation or modification withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a machine for burning off moil from hollow articles of glassware, a tubular spindle, an art cle-holding chuck on the lower end of said spindle, a turret in which said spindle is rotatably journaled, a valve casing mounted on said turret above and in vertical registration with said spindle, said casing being formed with a piston chamber and a valve bore, a piston valve formed with an open ended axial passage and mounted for sliding movement in said bore, said valve being provided at one end with a piston head slidably mounted in said chamber, said a casing being formed with a suction passage and said valve with a lateral port extending from the exterior thereof to its axial passage, spring means acting on the head of said valve to maintain the latter normally in a position in which the port thereof is out of registration with the suction passage of said cas ng, and cam actuated means operable for moving said valve against the resistance of said spring means to effect registration of'its port with said suction passage.

2. In a burn-off machine for producing hollow articles of glassware, a rotatable turret, a plurality of valve casings mounted at circumferentially spaced intervals on said turret, each of said casings being formed with a suction passage communica ing with a suction-producing means, tubular article-supporting spindles carried by aid turret, said spindles communicating with the interior of said valve casings, a valve member slidably mounted in each of said casing and controlling communication between said suction passages and said spindles, spring means maintaining said valve members in a position normally interrupting communication between said passages and said spindles, cam-actuated means engageable with said valve members to move the same against spring resistance to positions providing for communication between said passages and spindles. and means actuated by the presence of suction forces on said valve members to maintain the same in positions providing communication between said passages and spindles against spring pressures and independently of said cam-actuated means.

3. In a burn-off machine for producing hollow articles of glassware, .a rotatable turret, a plurality of valve casings mounted at circumferentiall spaced intervals on said turret, each of said casings being formed with a suction passage communicating with a suction-producing means, tubular article-supporting spindles carried by said turret, said spindles communicating with the interior of said valve casings, a valve member slidably mounted in each of said casings and controlling communication between said suction passages and said spindles, spring means maintaining said valve members in a position normally interrupting communication between said passages and said spindles, cam-actuated means'engageable with said valve members to move the same against spring resistance to positions providing for; communication between said passages and spindles, means actuated by the presence of suction forces on said valve members to maintain the same in positions providing communication between said passages and spindles against spring pressures and independently of said cam-actuated means, and hollow article-receiving chucks carried by the lower ends of said spindles, said chucks serving when articles are not positioned therein to establish atmospheric pressures on said valve members and interrupt the application of suction forces thereto which serve to maintain the valve members in positions providing for communication between said suction passages and said spindles.

4. In a machine for burning off moil from hollow articles of glassware, a tubular spindle having an article-holding chuck on the lower end thereof, a turret in which said spindle is rotatably journaled, a valve casing mounted on said turret in communication with said spindle, said casing being formed with a piston chamber and a valve bore, the piston chamber possessing a diameter substantiall greater than that of the bore, a piston valve formed with an open-ended axial passage and mounted for sliding movement in said bore, said valve being provided at one end with an enlarged iston head mounted in and having slidable engagement with the walls of said chamber, said casing being formed with a suction passage and said valve with a lateral port extending from the exterior thereof to its axial passage, spring means disposed in said chamber and acting on the head of said valve to maintain the latter normally in a position in which the port thereof is out of registration with the suction passage of said casing, a stationary cam, slidable means rotatable with said turret and engageable with said cam to move said valve against the resistance ofsaid spring means to effect registration of the port of said valve with said suction passage, whereby to retain an article in said chuck through suction forces and to produce suction forces on the head of said valve to maintain the same in a position establishing communication between said suction port and said spindle independently of said cam.

5. In a machine for burning off moil formations from hollow articles of glassware, a base, a turret mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, means for rotating said turret, a pluralit of tubular spindles rotatably mounted at circumferentially spaced intervals on said turret, article-holding chucks on the lower ends of said spindles for supporting articles of glassware in an inverted position, burners carried by said turret below said chucks to receive moil prolongations of the articles carried by said chucks and direct severing flames thereon, valve means carried by said turret and cooperative with said spindles to establish suction forces therein for retaining articles in said chucks, a supplemental valve mechanism communicating with a source of fluid under superatmospheric pressure, and trip means carried by said supplemental valve mechanism and engageable with unremoved moil on said articles of glassware when said turret reaches a predetermined position in its cycle of rotation to apply super-atmospheric pressures to the articles con- JOHN W. ELDRED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 16 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schrader Mar. 23, 1926 Parker May 6, 1930 Kadow Apr. 9, 1935 Gardner May 30, 1944 Schreiber June 18, 1946 Schreiber et a1 Feb. 18, 1947 

